---
kind: "section"
citation: "10 U.S.C. § 20237"
title: "10"
title_heading: "Armed Forces"
number: "20237"
heading: "Numbers to be recommended for promotion"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/10/20237"
units:
  - "Subtitle F — Alternative Military Personnel Systems"
  - "Part I — Space Force"
  - "Chapter 2005 — Officers"
  - "Subchapter III — Promotions"
---

# §20237. Numbers to be recommended for promotion

- (a) **Promotion to Grades Below Brigadier General.—**
  - (1) **Determination of maximum number.—** Before convening a selection board under [section 20211 of this title](/usc/10/20211.md) to consider [officers](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) for recommendation for promotion to a [grade](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-7) below brigadier general and in any competitive category, the Secretary of the Air Force shall determine the maximum number of [officers](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) in that competitive category that the board may recommend for promotion.
  - (2) **Determinations.—** In order to make the determination under [paragraph (1)](#a-1), the Secretary shall determine—
    - (A) the number of positions needed to accomplish mission objectives which require [officers](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) of that competitive category in the [grade](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-7) to which the board will recommend [officers](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) for promotion;
    - (B) the estimated number of [officers](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) needed to fill vacancies in those positions during the period in which it is anticipated that [officers](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) selected for promotion will be promoted; and
    - (C) the number of [officers](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) in a [space force active status](/usc/10/101.md?p=e-1) authorized by the Secretary of the Air Force to serve both on [sustained duty](/usc/10/101.md?p=e-4) and not on [sustained duty](/usc/10/101.md?p=e-4) in the [grade](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-7) and competitive category under consideration.
- (b) **Promotion to Brigadier General and Major General.—**
  - (1) **Determination of maximum numbers.—** Before convening a selection board under [section 20211 of this title](/usc/10/20211.md) to consider [officers](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) for recommendation for promotion to the [grade](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-7) of brigadier general or major general, the Secretary of the Air Force shall determine the maximum number of [officers](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) serving in a [space force active status](/usc/10/101.md?p=e-1) on [sustained duty](/usc/10/101.md?p=e-4), and the maximum number of [officers](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) serving in a [space force active status](/usc/10/101.md?p=e-1) not on [sustained duty](/usc/10/101.md?p=e-4), that the board may recommend for promotion.
  - (2) **Determinations.—** In order to make the determinations under [paragraph (1)](#b-1), the Secretary shall determine—
    - (A) the number of positions needed to accomplish mission objectives which require [officers](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) serving in a [space force active status](/usc/10/101.md?p=e-1) on [sustained duty](/usc/10/101.md?p=e-4), and in a [space force active status](/usc/10/101.md?p=e-1) not on [sustained duty](/usc/10/101.md?p=e-4), in the [grade](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-7) to which the board will recommend [officers](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) for promotion; and
    - (B) the estimated number of [officers](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-1) on [sustained duty](/usc/10/101.md?p=e-4) and not on [sustained duty](/usc/10/101.md?p=e-4) needed to fill vacancies in those positions over the 24-month period beginning on the date on which the selection board convenes.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 118–31, div. A, title XVII, § 1716(c), Dec. 22, 2023, 137 Stat. 644.)